KINGSCLIFF PUMPS FOR OPENING DAY OF MOTHERNEST TWEED COAST PRO.

Day one of the 2018 Mothernest Tweed Coast Pro World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) 1000 event has kicked off in pumping surf at Kingscliff. It was an easy decision for contest directors to move the event with ideal 3-to-5 foot waves grinding down a perfect right-hand sandbank. The massive opening day of competition saw Women’s round one completed along with Men’s round one and two.

Kingscliff local Codie Klein (AUS/NSW) was always going to be a hard one to beat when the QS came to her home break. With increasing swell and strong currents, Klein’s local knowledge came into play as she seemed to be on the right waves when others couldn’t find them. Klein posted a modest heat-winning total of 10.50 to take the heat win and progress into round two.

“This is the best I have seen the sand here for a while so I thought it could be a possibility that the event would be here today,” Klein said. “I hadn’t surfed here much in the last few years but as soon as I get out there it is so familiar, which definitely helps. It’s a great spot for an event and having all the shops right here, it is awesome for the local community so I’m stoked to have everyone in town.”

Margaret River’s Mia McCarthy (AUS/WA) looked comfortable in the tricky conditions, surfing sharp and fast. The stylish natural-footer found the majority of scoring waves in her heat to take a convincing win and progress into the next round.

“We are so lucky to have conditions like this today,” McCarthy said. “There is a lot of current which makes it hard out there but I have been surfing here for the last few days so I felt really prepared. It’s an amazing the bank here offering some of the most fun waves I’ve ever had in a contest. I hope it keeps coming over the next few days.”

Phillip Island native Joe Van Dijk (AUS/VIC) is a big fan of the mobile format of the Mothernest Tweed Coast Pro. Van Dijk revelled on the long walls at Kingscliff posting the highest heat total of the event so far, a 17.40 for his super powerful forehand attack.

“It’s so sick that this event can move around,” Van Dijk said. “I’m sure nowhere in this area is breaking as good as here, it is pumping at the moment. It’s nice to come to an event and be able to showcase our surfing in really good waves. Apparently, it’s going to continue like this over the next few days so I’m stoked.”

After a few tough heats recently in below par conditions, McKenzie Bowden (NZL) from New Zealand was ecstatic to arrive at Kingscliff and find grinding right-hand barrels on offer for day one of competition. It was evident in his surfing as he posted an excellent heat total 16.75 for a combination of long tube rides and aggressive lip surfing.

“The last few events I’ve surfed at haven’t had very good waves so this is amazing to have the conditions we have here today,” Bowden said. “Getting barrels in a heat is always so sick so I’m really pumped at the moment. I knew I was getting good scores but I had no idea if the other guys were getting better ones. Even if I was going to lose I was still having so much fun out there.”

Joshua Cattlin (AUS/WA) from Western Australia has surfed at an event in Kingscliff before and it just so happened to be pumping then as well. It is safe to say Cattlin wasn’t too surprised when he returned for day one of the Mothernest Tweed Coast Pro. The goofy-footers pace matched the waves on offer well as he took out his heat with a total of 12.70

“Last time I was here the waves were amazing as well,” Cattlin said. “It is a little tough to pick the right ones but when you do they are amazing. It’s so good surfing heats in waves this good. Preparing is easy because you are so excited to get out there and get one.”

The Mothernest Tweed Coast Pro will run from January 31 – February 4 and will be broadcast live on the 3rd and 4th at www.worldsurfleague.com and on the WSL App. Head there for more information, highlights and images.

The Vissla NSW Pro Surf Series was developed for Australian and International surfers to gain ranking points and prize money on the WSL Qualifying Series. The series also creates a NSW coastal road trip for all to explore the variety of waves, visit local communities and enjoy NSW surfing culture.

The 2018 NSW Pro Surf Series will be proudly supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. The series will also be proudly supported by Vissla, Randwick City Council, Central Coast Council, Destination Tweed, Mid Coast Council and Tourism, NBN, Toyota, Coastalwatch, World Surf League and Surfing NSW.